San Rafael embezzlement suspect charged with 46 felonies

A woman accused of embezzling $1.5 million from a San Rafael company will be arraigned Monday on 46 felony counts, the district attorney's office said.

Jodi Michele Azevedo, 44, of Petaluma was arrested Wednesday after an investigation by the San Rafael Police Department. Police said Azevedo, a controller at a real estate concern, stole the money over nearly a decade by writing checks to herself from the business account.

Azevedo's employer — the Plastiras and Terrizzi law firm and its affiliated real estate company, Parkway Properties Investment Corp. — contacted police after an internal audit pointed to Azevedo as the suspect.

The charges against Azevedo include three counts of embezzlement and 43 counts of grand theft, with penalty enhancements for alleged white-collar crimes.

Richard Scott, a lawyer for Azevedo, did not return calls for comment.

Azevedo remains in custody in lieu of $1.5 million. She is also facing a related civil lawsuit filed by her former employer.